Distributed lighting control system

Abstract

A lighting system includes a plurality of control modules distributed on the AC power line for remote control of lights within a residential/office building structure. Each control module is hard-wired to an electrical load and is provided with a dimmer and up to four control switches and LEDs for status indication. Each control module has a data decoder, a switch and LED interface, a dimmer driver and processor with memory for independently processing and communicating data signals to the other control modules on the AC power line without the need for a central processor to coordinate the lighting control operation. Every control module is programmable through a programmable module and a PC. The system data downloaded to each control module includes a unique address, a system configuration file and a response file for evaluating system transmission commands. Each control switch may be programmed to control the hard-wired load or any other load in the system.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A lighting system comprising a plurality of control modules distributed on an alternating current (AC) power line for remote control of electrical loads within a structure, at least one of said plurality of control modules comprises a processor, a data decoder coupled to said processor through a data bus and means for driving a dimmer, each control module coupled to at least one of said electrical loads, each control module capable of independently processing and communicating data signals to the other control modules on said AC power line for control of one or a group of said electrical loads without the need for a central processor to coordinate the lighting control operation. 
     
     
       2. The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein said dimmer driving means includes a dimmer driver for generating a duty control signal for driving said dimmer through an optoisolator, said dimmer electrically coupled to said AC power line. 
     
     
       3. The lighting system of  claim 2 , further comprising means for driving said dimmer driver. 
     
     
       4. The lighting system of  claim 3 , wherein said dimmer driver driving means includes a bridge rectifier electrically coupled to said AC power line for generating a rectified voltage signal, a potential divider coupled to said bridge rectifier for receiving said rectified voltage signal and means for generating a pulse signal for input to said dimmer driver. 
     
     
       5. The lighting system of  claim 4 , wherein said pulse signal generating means includes a comparator operatively coupled to said potential divider and a resistor operatively coupled between the output of said comparator and said dimmer driver. 
     
     
       6. The lighting system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for programming at least one of said plurality of control modules. 
     
     
       7. The lighting system of  claim 6 , wherein said programming means includes a programming module operatively coupled between said at least one control module and a computer for downloading system configuration data to said at least one control module through said programming module. 
     
     
       8. The lighting system of  claim 7 , further comprising means for evaluating a data transmission command. 
     
     
       9. The lighting system of  claim 8 , wherein said data transmission command evaluating means includes a response table downloaded to said at least one control module from said computer through said programming module for use by said processor, said response table containing an address entry for said at least one control module and a load address entry. 
     
     
       10. The lighting system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said plurality of control modules further comprises an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) coupled to said processor by way of said data bus. 
     
     
       11. The lighting system of  claim 10  wherein said ASIC includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), said FPGA including said dimmer driver and said data decoder. 
     
     
       12. A lighting system comprising a plurality of control modules distributed on an alternating current (AC) power line within a structure, at least of said plurality of control modules comprises a processor, a data decoder coupled to said processor through a data bus and a switch and LED interface operatively coupled between said at least one control switch and said at least one LED, each control module having at least one control switch and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) operatively coupled to said at lest one control switch for status indication, each control module capable of independently processing and communicating data signals to the other control modules on said AC power line without the need for a central processor to coordinate the lighting control operation. 
     
     
       13. The lighting system of  claim 12 , further comprising means for programming at least one of said plurality of control modules. 
     
     
       14. The lighting system of  claim 13 , wherein said programming means includes a programming module operatively coupled between said at least one control module and a computer for downloading system configuration data to said at least one control module through said programming module. 
     
     
       15. The lighting system of  claim 14 , further comprising means for evaluating a data transmission command. 
     
     
       16. The lighting system of  claim 15 , wherein said data transmission command evaluating means includes a response table downloaded to said at least one control module from said computer through said programming module for use by said processor, said response table containing an address entry for said at least one control module, for said at least one control switch and for said at least one LED. 
     
     
       17. The lighting system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said plurality of control modules further comprises an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) coupled to said processor by way of said data bus. 
     
     
       18. The lighting system of  claim 17 , wherein said ASIC includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), said FPGA including said switch and LED interface and said data decoder. 
     
     
       19. A lighting system comprising a plurality of control modules distributed on an alternating current (AC) power line for remote control of electrical loads within a structure, at least of said plurality of control modules comprises a processor, a data decoder coupled to said processor through a data bus, a switch and LED interface operatively coupled between said at least one control switch and said at leasat one LED and means for driving a dimmer, each control module coupled to at least one of said electrical loads and having at least one control switch and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) operatively coupled to said at lest one control switch for status indication, each control module capable of independently processing and communicating data signals to the other control modules on said AC power line for control of one or a group of said electrical loads without the need for a central processor to coordinate the lighting control operation. 
     
     
       20. The lighting system of  claim 19 , wherein said dimmer driving means includes a dimmer driver for generating a duty control signal for driving said dimmer through an optoisolator, said dimmer electrically coupled to said AC power line. 
     
     
       21. The lighting system of  claim 20 , further comprising means for driving said dimmer driver. 
     
     
       22. The lighting system of  claim 21 , wherein said dimmer driver driving means includes a bridge rectifier electrically coupled to said AC power line for generating a rectified voltage signal, a potential divider coupled to said bridge rectifier for receiving said rectified voltage signal and means for generating a pulse signal for input to said dimmer driver. 
     
     
       23. The lighting system of  claim 22 , wherein said pulse signal generating means includes a comparator operatively coupled to said potential divider and a resistor operatively coupled between the output of said comparator and said dimmer driver. 
     
     
       24. The lighting system of  claim 19 , further comprising means for programming at least one of said plurality of control modules. 
     
     
       25. The lighting system of  claim 24 , wherein said programming means includes a programming module operatively coupled between said at least one control module and a computer for downloading system configuration data to said at least one control module through said programming module. 
     
     
       26. The lighting system of  claim 25 , further comprising means for evaluating a data transmission command. 
     
     
       27. The lighting system of  claim 26 , wherein said data transmission command evaluating means includes a response table downloaded to said at least one control module from said computer through said programming module for use by said processor, said response table containing an address entry for said at least one control module, for said at least one control switch, for said at least one LED and a load address entry. 
     
     
       28. The lighting system of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said plurality of control modules further comprises an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) coupled to said processor by way of said data bus. 
     
     
       29. The lighting system of  claim 28 , wherein said ASIC includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), said FPGA including said dimmer driver, said data decoder and said switch and LED interface. 
     
     
       30. A control module for use in a lighting system distributed on an alternating current (AC) power line within a structure, said control module comprising: 
       (a) a processor;  
       (b) a data decoder coupled to said processor through a data bus;  
       (c) a switch and light-emitting diode (LED) interface operatively coupled to said data decoder; and  
       (d) a dimmer driver, said control module electrically coupled to the structure wiring and capable of independently receiving and transmitting communication signals within said distributed lighting system.  
     
     
       31. The control module of  claim 30 , further comprising means for programming said control module. 
     
     
       32. The control module of  claim 31 , wherein said programming means includes a programming module operatively coupled between said control module and a computer for downloading system configuration data to said control module through said programming module. 
     
     
       33. The control module of  claim 32 , further comprising means for evaluating a data transmission command. 
     
     
       34. The control module of  claim 33 , wherein said data transmission command evaluating means includes a response table downloaded to said control module from said computer through said programming module for use by said processor, said response table containing an address entry for said control module. 
     
     
       35. The control module of  claim 30 , further comprising an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) coupled to said processor by way of said data bus. 
     
     
       36. The control module of  claim 35 , wherein said ASIC includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), said FPGA including said switch and LED interface, said dimmer driver and said data decoder. 
     
     
       37. A lighting system comprising a plurality of control modules distributed on an alternating current (AC) power line for remote control of electrical loads within a structure, each control module coupled to at least one of said electrical loads, each control module including means for independently processing and communicating data signals to the other control modules on said AC power line for control of one or a group of said electrical loads without the need for a central processor to coordinate the lighting control operation. 
     
     
       38. A lighting system comprising a plurality of control modules distributed on an alternating current (AC) power line within a structure, each control module having at least one control switch and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) operatively coupled to said at least one control switch for status indication, each control module including means for independently processing and communicating data signals to the other control modules on said AC power line without the need for a central processor to coordinate the lighting control operation. 
     
     
       39. A lighting system comprising a plurality of control modules distributed on an alternating current (AC) power line for remote control of electrical loads within a structure, each control module coupled to at least one of said electrical loads and having at least one control switch and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) operatively coupled to said at least one control switch for status indication, each control module including means for independently processing and communicating data signals to the other control modules on said AC power line for control of one or a group of said electrical loads without the need for a central processor to coordinate the lighting control operation.